5.  Real estate is more valuable than before emancipation.  Property is more secure, and capitalists are more ready to invest their funds.

6.  The result of 1840 is as yet doubtful.  For his part, he has no fears.  He doubts not he can cultivate his plantation as easily after that period as before.  He is confident he can do it cheaper.  He thinks it not only likely, but certain, that many of the plantations on which the people have been ill used, while slaves and apprentices, will be abandoned by the present laborers, and that they will never be worked until overseers are put over them who, instead of doing all they can to harass them, will soothe and conciliate them.  The apprenticeship has done much harm instead of good in the way of preparing the blacks to work after 1840.

A few days after our return from the mountains, we rode to Spanishtown, which is about twelve miles west of Kingston.  Spanishtown is the seat of government, containing the various buildings for the residence of the governor, the meeting of the legislature, the session of the courts, and rooms for the several officers of the crown.  They are all strong and massive structures, but display little architectural magnificence or beauty.

We spent nearly a day with Richard Hill, Esq., the secretary of the special magistrates’ department, of whom we have already spoken.  He is a colored gentleman, and in every respect the noblest man, white or black, whom we met in the West Indies.  He is highly intelligent, and of fine moral feelings.  His manners are free and unassuming, and his language in conversation fluent and well chosen.  He is intimately acquainted with English and French authors, and has studied thoroughly the history and character of the people with whom the tie of color has connected him.  He travelled two years in Hayti, and his letters, written in a flowing and luxuriant style, as a son of the tropics should write, giving an account of his observations and inquiries in that interesting island, were published extensively in England; and have been copied into the anti-slavery journals in this country.  His journal will be given to the public as soon as his official duties will permit him to prepare it.  He is at the head of the special magistrates, (of which there are sixty in the island,) and all the correspondence between them and the governor is carried on through him.  The station he holds is a very important one, and the business connected with it is of a character and an extent that, were he not a man of superior abilities, he could not sustain.  He is highly respected by the government in the island, and at home, and possesses the esteem of his fellow-citizens of all colors.  He associates with persons of the highest rank, dining and attending parties at the government-house with all the aristocracy of Jamaica.  We had the pleasure of spending an evening with him at the solicitor-general’s.  Though an African sun has burnt a deep tinge on him, he is truly one of nature’s noblemen.  His demeanor is such, so dignified, yet bland and amiable, that no one can help respecting him.